Day 75 – 77

01.09.23 – 02.09.23

I left Ao Nang & Krabi in the manner I’d become accustomed to, wet and raining!! 😂

It was an early start up at 5.30 for pick up at 6.45 The taxi was bang in time and I was the first pick up, so bagged a seat at the front. This turned out to be a a bloody good thing! 

We quickly picked up the remaining 6 people, one of whom was a single guy who after loading his bag in the back opted to seat at the back as well. I’m so pleased he did because for the next hour all he did was coughing his lungs up and sniffing constantly and loudly. As I only have 5 more days here I don’t want whatever he has, thank you very much! 😬 

The drive was interesting/horrifying! The roads are very wet with lots of large deep areas of standing water, there are road works and detours, it’s busy morning traffic and our driver is constantly talking on and switching between 2 mobile phones!! WTAF! 😱 (Another stealthy way of getting rid of tourists!) 

By the grace of some god or another i arrived in one piece and on time at Krabi airport! 🙏

I breezed through check in and security. Grabbed a cup of tea and a pastry before take off then the plane left on time, even though there was no actual plane at the gate until 20 mins before we were due to depart. 😂

I sat next to an interesting American lady, who looked a little like Mandy! She was heading to Bangkok with her fiancé before traveling on to Varanasi in India alone! She has done a lot of solo travel and has been to India a few times. I asked her how that was, as I’d love to go but feel nervous as a single female. From what she said I think I’ll sadly be giving India a miss. ☹️

We landed on time and despite a short wait for the the malfunctioning disembarking tunnel thing to be fixed I was soon out and heading to the taxi rank. 

I’m pretty sure I got overcharged for my ride into Bangkok by my tiny 400 year old, tobacco chewing driver!! The cabs are on meters but he gave me a price, I haggled and we settled on 550 thai baht. He spent a while conferring with another driver about the location of my hotel, so I didn’t have high hopes of arriving at the correct place in a reasonable time! I was wrong! ☺️ 

It was a pretty straightforward drive, traffic was light and I arrived within 25 mins! Result! 

My hotel is lovely, quite small but friendly and right in amongst things, which I love. The pool is also lush, small but cool and refreshing. 

I have to say I do enjoy being back in a bustling city! I’m staying near to Khoasan Road. 

I unpacked a few things and then went for a wander. The area is lively and with not too many high rise buildings, which is nice. I stopped at a tourist office and got a map and then walked towards the Khaosan Road. 

There is a road running next to it called, ‘Ram Buttri’, this has lots of nice restaurants and cafes, a perfect spot to have a beer cool off! 

The Khaosan Road is smaller than I imagined and during the day is not particularly busy. I’m a little underwhelmed to be honest. 

After my wander and orientating myself I walk back to the hotel for a welcome refreshing dip in the pool. 

I’m going to head back to Khaosan area later for something to eat but as I was up early I think it’ll be a quick bite then bed. 

I had a quick bite and a beer and decide that as I’ve walked a lot today and my ankle is a little sore I’ll grab a Tuk Tuk back. I ask one and show him the address, it will literally take him 4mins to get there, he says 400bht!! I wish I knew how to,say ‘Fuck Off’ in Thai such a rip off. It pissed me off so much I angry walked home!! 😂

After a good nights sleep and with my ankle feeling OK (I’m slathering it with Tiger balm!) I get some toast and tea for breakfast, not included but as I provided my own tea bag they don’t charge, they do however put it in a lovely little teapot 😍

I spotted on the map that there is a Library nearby, Bangkok City Library, so I’m going to walk there then find a tourist place to book some trips. 

I find the Library easily enough. Inside is an oasis of peace and tranquility. It’s a beautiful building, it looks a little art deco, I did ask if they had a leaflet about its history, they do but only in Thai sadly.

I have a wander round, sit and read The Bangkok Post, which has an article about the Library! and just enjoy the quiet.

What’s really interesting is that this beautiful quiet Library is 50 meters away from the Khoasan Road! Such a contrast. 

I found a great place to book a trip, the lady, Palmy, is so helpful. I’ve booked a 1/2 day trip to go to the Train Market and the Floating Market (more bloody boats! 😬😂) Palmy also suggested I go to Chatuchak Weekend Market and said that next door is a beautiful big park, one of the big in Bangkok. As I don’t have any set plans this is what I’ll do. She advised me about how much it should cost to get there by Taxi, which is a great help. The first Taxi wants to charge my triple the amount, the 2nd taxi is the same. I finally find a Taxi driver who starts at a more reasonable price and I haggle down to what is approximately the correct amount. As they are all metered, I don’t know how they get away with it. 

To be fair it takes around 30 minutes to get there, traffic is busy and it’s further away than I thought. 

The Market is absolutely bloody enormous 😳 lots of little alleys going in all directions. As Thai Markets go this is one of the biggest it’s also one of best smelling ones 😀 It seems to smell of lemongrass and limes 😂 possibly down to all the scent burners on sale. 

The market sells everything, it’s great because there are lots of artisan stalls not just tourist tat. I have a good look around buy a couple of little last minute gifts then grab a delicious mango smoothie. 

I work my way back to where I came in and ask someone where the park is, they point down the road and say it’s a 6 minute walk (very precise) Mmm, yes, 6 minutes if your a bloody giant with huge legs! 15 minutes and lots of sweat later I find the park, but the entrance is a little trickier. At this point I’m hot, sweaty, my feet ache and I’m contemplating just grabbing a Taxi and going home 🥵😩 but, this park is on my list of things to do, so I’m determined to actually go in the park and not just stare at it through a fence! 😂 

Finally I find the small little gate, tucked beside a market stall. Hallelujah!! 

The park is gorgeous and very big. I have a little mooch around but to be honest, I’m a tad concerned that if I move too far away from the gate I’ll be trapped in here forever 😂

I have a very welcome rest on a park bench, drink an ice cold fresh orange juice and relax. 

I get a Taxi back with a very pleasant driver who I’ve now booked to take me to the airport on Tuesday. 👍

The pool is empty when I get here and so delightful to get into and cool off. Heaven.

Tonight I am going to go to a Rooftop Bar I found on Google, called Press Sky Bar.

It’s in a hotel and although it’s not that high it is stunning.

I managed to time it perfectly and arrived on the rooftop just as the sun was at the point of hitting the Palace and Temples casting them in the most gorgeous golden light. Honestly, it was absolutely glorious. My pictures don’t do it justice.  I’m so so happy I made it in time to see this.

Then as if that wasn’t enough as it got darker the huge river bridge lights up and looks like an Angel! 😍 Then there was lightning flashing through the clouds for ages! I was in heaven. 💛

After this beautiful experience and a few Margaritas I walk to the  Khoasan Road, it’s about 8.30. 

Wow!! What a difference. The place is heaving, there is music coming from everywhere, so many people trying to get you into their bars, massage parlour, club! It’s loud and very lively 😂 I’m sure it gets busier the later it gets. 

I spot a sign, that makes me smile and decide to give that bar a go! But sadly they are charging nearly 300 baht for one cocktail! That’s ridiculous, I left and am them “persuaded” to go to a bar, it’s playing rap music!! 👍😍 with a Thai guy MCing who was excellent.

I have a Long Island iced Tea and just enjoy the music and it’s great people watching. The guy sitting next to me with his girlfriend inhaled around 8 laughing gas balloons very rapidly 😬😳 I’m sure this isn’t safe! Plus he didn’t even smile! 😂😂 I’m then joined by a couple of young American guys who are very chatty and fun, I end up talking to Mikes mum on a video call! 😂😂 A really fun evening. I could have stayed out for ages but my sensible side won out and I head back to the hotel. 

All in all a bloody brilliant day!! 😍😍😍

Sorry this was such a long post! 

Books read 26

Songbirds by Chrissy Lefteri such a beautifully written sad and tragic story. I would highly recommend. (The Author wrote The Bee Keeper of Aleppo, another must read.) 

Have a fantastic Sunday.